Microsoft planning ‘hassle-free’ global public Wi-Fi initiative

Microsoft is planning to launch a public Wi-Fi service that would allow users to connect to multiple providers on the go, the company has confirmed.

The Microsoft WiFi app will available for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, according to information captured by VentureBeat on Monday.

The initiative will enable “hassle-free internet access around the world,” according to promotional materials briefly published on an official website.

The MicrosoftWifi.com website has now been pulled, but reporters were able to glean the service will allow users to “Sign in once and you are done: you will automatically be connected to a vast range of WiFi providers around the world.”

After the site came down, Microsoft addressed the status in a statement delivered to VentureBeat.

“We can confirm that we are working on a new service, called Microsoft Wi-Fi, that will bring hassle-free Wi-Fi to millions,” the spokesperson said. “We look forward to sharing additional detail when available.”

The service won’t be available to all people, according to the information gleaned; at least initially.

Apparently, at launch, it’ll only be available to Skype Wi-Fi subscribers, Microsoft Office 365 for Enterprise users and those who’ve received a ‘special Wi-Fi offer’ from Microsoft.Read more: Windows 10 vs Windows 8: Should you upgrade?

This could be an extension of the Skype Wi-Fi scheme with much bigger ambitions. It could potentially give Microsoft Wi-Fi users the chance to connect to hotspots from companies like The Cloud or BT WiFi without having to sign in multiple times, every time they move to a different part of town.